A series of minor but impactful changes are apparently headed to Google Messages, or its search section, to be more specific.
Searching for messages is already a smooth process on Google Messages, thanks to a myriad of search filters. The search interface may get a little makeover to make it even easier to look for older messages, in case someone wants to forget what they said to upset you last week.
Android Authority discovered some changes to the interface when going through the latest Google Messages beta. What's more, they were even able to activate the changes to show us what the new interface will look like.
At first glance, it's hard to spot the changes. If you look closely though, there are no less than five updates to improve the search experience.
The first change is that the search filter page has been reorganized and looks less congested. The filter buttons have been enlarged and they have been placed in two rows.
The search results are now displayed individually as separate cards of sorts. A search for links will now display results in boxes with rounded corners instead of squared-off edges.
Lastly, the search box is a different color now, though that may not necessarily be a welcome change, as the current darker field is easier to spot.
As with most other Google Messages changes, these are also minor, but they do improve the look, and more importantly, the functionality of the app.
Since the updates aren't official yet, there's no way to tell if they will be implemented in the current form, if ever. Regardless, the latest beta version proves yet again that Google is always working (or at least trying) to improve the appearance and usability of its app, which is more important than ever now, considering the number of apps that have been or will be shut down to drive up the adoption rate of RCS.
Big news from Google today for Gemini Advanced users: Deep Research, the AI research helper, is now available on your phone. This means you can now use it on both Android and iPhone to whip up detailed reports on pretty much any topic while you're on the go.
We all know how much time goes into searching for information online. It can be tough, especially when you're trying to understand something tricky. Complex research could sometimes take hours of your time of looking at websites and articles. However, Deep Research is positioned as the tool that can take care of that for you.
Google compares this tool to having your own research assistant. You ask it a question, and it starts doing the work. In a way, it's similar to having someone who can sift through all the unnecessary information online and pick out what matters. Then, it puts everything together in a nice, easy-to-read report.
Screenshot 2025-02-19 12.41.28.jpg
"Deep Research" will be available now as an option within Gemini on iOS and Android.
"Deep Research" will be available now as an option within Gemini on iOS and Android.
Here's how it works: you give Deep Research your question, and it makes a plan. You can check the plan and change it if you want. Then, it starts its research. It looks at websites, finds helpful information, and uses that information to improve its search. It keeps doing this until it understands the topic well.
Then, you get a report. It's organized, and it includes links to the original sources, so you can look at them if you want. You can also send the report to a Google Doc. Plus, if you have more questions, you can just ask Gemini. The mobile accessibility of Deep Research makes it even more convenient, allowing users to conduct research from any location.
This new AI research tool could really change how we find information. Getting detailed reports quickly and easily could help everyone, from students and researchers to professionals and regular folks just looking for answers.
Personally, I'm looking forward to trying this on my phone. I don't usually do research from my mobile devices, but I blame that on years of telling myself that serious research needed to be done on a full desktop with an ultra-wide screen. However, I'm curious about using this tool on a foldable or a larger screen smartphone, however, it shouldn't make a difference since you can export the results to Google Docs to access from any device.
A huge data breach has resulted in the leak of 2.7 billion records belonging to China's Mars Hydro. The company is involved in indoor growing and hydroponics which is the process of growing plants without soil. The company offers LED grow lights, grow tents, and other products. Because many of the products it offers are controlled by smartphones, information about the different types of handsets and Wi-Fi networks used by its customers was included in the data breach. The operating system used by these phones (iOS or Android) was also leaked.
The data was not protected by a password and the information leaked also included Wi-Fi SSID network names, passwords, IP addresses, device ID numbers, and email addresses. According to one report, the potential threats from this data breach include unauthorized access to networks and devices, phishing attacks, interception of data, and man-in-the-middle attacks.
Man-in-the-middle attacks are serious because they involve an attacker who secretly gets in the middle of two parties having an unencrypted online conversation. The attacker can change the conversation sent from one party to the other without either participant in the conversation being aware that this was taking place. As a result, this data breach could lead to impersonations and eavesdropping attacks.
It is not yet clear whether the database involved in the breach was managed and owned directly by Mars Hydro and LG-LED SOLUTIONS or run by a third-party contracted to manage the data. It should be noted that Mars Hydro designs and manufactures its products in Shenzhen, China while owning warehouses in the U.K. and the U.S.
As we pointed out, smartphones are used to control some of the products available from Mars Hydro which is why the latter has an app available from both the App Store and the Google Play Store. The apps are available in Chinese, English, French, and German. Privacy notices for the app in both the iOS and Android storefronts say that these apps do not collect any user data. However, it is possible that the leaked records contained credentials and connectivity details that were obtained from the IoT devices offered by Mars Hydro once they were connected to the user's victim's local network.
So far, there has been no evidence that the leaked data was obtained by an attacker ready to use it for evil purposes. There is always the possibility that a foreign government will obtain the database and use it to gather information or for surveillance purposes.
Something weird is happening with Google TV lately, as the service has started to lose channels faster than it gains new ones. As many of you probably already know, Google TV offers access to hundreds of channels, and some of them are free to watch.
In fact, Google TV adds new free channels to its library almost every month. Sometimes the list of added channels is very short, but other times Google TV users are given access to nearly a dozen free channels.
Unfortunately, Google TV lost access to several free channels last week, and a new report indicates that this has happened again recently. After losing access to nine free channels in the first week of February, Google TV has just removed three more free channels in the last couple of days:
- Xumo Holiday Movie Channel
- Xumo Holiday Classics
- Xumo Christian Christmas
With the three channels listed above, Google TV removed a dozen free channels from its library. Here are the other nine that have been removed last week:
- The Hill TV
- Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan
- Dove Channel
- Comedy Dynamics
- The Bob Ross Channel
- Shades of Black
- OutTV Proud
- Dazn Ringside
- Dazn Women’s Football
Screenshot 2025-02-17 00.11.54.jpg
There's a high chance that the removed channels will make a comeback soon
There's a high chance that the removed channels will make a comeback soon
On the bright side, Google TV Freeplay seems to have re-added two of the channels that it removed at the beginning of the month: OutTV Proud and Shades of Black. That said, Google TV is still missing ten of the channels that were available for free until recently.
Although this seems unusual for a service of such caliber, not many will probably notice that they no longer have access to nearly a dozen channels. Google TV has a quite expansive collection of over 170 free channels, so it’s impossible not to find something else to watch instead of the 10 channels that have been removed.
No explanation has been provided regarding the removal of these channels, but it might have something to do with the distribution rights Google typically signs with various partners.
Considering that two of the channels that were previously removed have already returned to Google TV, there’s a high chance that the other ten will make a comeback sooner rather than later.
Apple iPhone users are warned: these settings are on by default but must be disabled ASAP
Screenshot 2025-02-16 01.13.09.jpg
Screenshot 2025-02-16 01.13.09.jpg
Default settings on the iPhone that could give attackers and hackers access to your personal information such as passwords, bank accounts, photos, and more, need to be changed immediately before these cyber criminals gain access to your sensitive data and use the stolen info to take over your financial accounts. The NSA (National Security Agency) and law enforcement officials warn that the risk and danger is real. "The risk is not merely theoretical," the NSA says. "Malicious techniques are publicly known and in use."
The Wi-Fi settings that is being used to break into your financial accounts is called "Auto-Join" and it is used to automatically connect iPhones to public hotspots and Wi-Fi networks at bars, restaurants, coffee shops, bookshops, and more. By default, these two settings are setup to automatically have your phone connect to a network or hotspot practically placing a red bullseye target around your phone.
Quote:
"The biggest threat to free Wi-Fi security is the ability for the hacker to position himself between you and the connection point. So instead of talking directly with the hotspot, you're sending your information to the hacker, who then relays it on. While working in this setup, the hacker has access to every piece of information you're sending out on the Internet: important emails, credit card information, and even security credentials to your business network. Once the hacker has that information, he can — at his leisure — access your systems as if he were you."-Kaspersky
Screenshot 2025-02-16 01.16.09.jpg
Change the default settings for these two Auto-Join features to prevent joining a rogue Wi-Fi or Hotspot network.
Change the default settings for these two Auto-Join features to prevent joining a rogue Wi-Fi or Hotspot network.
The NSA also suggests that those connected to an outside network turn off Bluetooth on their iPhones if not in use. Why? Because with Bluetooth enabled, an iPhone user could face a BlueBorne attack which is when a hacker takes control of a device without any interaction from the user. This can result in the phone owner becoming the victim of a ransomware attack, data theft, or cyber espionage.
If you do connect to a mobile network or a hotspot that you don't plan on connecting with again, you can remove it from your phone by going to Settings > Wi-Fi and tapping Edit in the upper right corner. Networks you can delete will have a red circle with a white dash in the middle on the left side of the display. Tap that symbol on the networks you wish to delete from your phone and tap the red box that says "Delete." When you're finished, tap the Done button in the upper right corner of the screen.
Also be careful of Wi-Fi networks that look similar to the name of a legitimate restaurant or a hotel but with minor spelling errors. These could be fake networks setup by criminals who hope that you'll connect your device to it and reveal personal data that can be used to break into your financial apps.
A false earthquake alarm, triggered by Google's Android Earthquake Alerts System, startled users across Brazil early Wednesday morning, leading to the system's temporary suspension. This incident marks the first widespread false alarm for the system since its launch in 2020.
The Android Earthquake Alerts System leverages the power of crowdsourced data from Android smartphones. These phones, equipped with accelerometers, can detect the initial “P-wave” of an earthquake. This primary wave, though less destructive, precedes the more damaging “S-wave.” By identifying the P-wave, the system aims to provide users with a few crucial seconds of warning before the stronger shaking arrives.
The system's track record has been a mixed bag. It successfully alerted residents in the Philippines about an impending earthquake in 2021. However, it reportedly failed to send alerts during a devastating earthquake in Turkey in 2023, though Google claims the system functioned as designed. Earlier this year, Google expanded the system's reach across the United States.
This week's incident in Brazil saw Android users receiving earthquake warnings around 2 a.m. local time, with the alert suggesting a potential earthquake of up to 5.5 magnitude. However, no seismic activity was recorded. The cause of this false alarm remains unknown, and Google has stated they are investigating the matter.
In a released statement, Google emphasized that the Android Earthquake Alert System is a supplementary tool and not intended to replace official alert systems. They acknowledged that the system detected unusual cell phone signals near the coast of São Paulo, which triggered the erroneous alerts. Google has apologized for the inconvenience caused and reiterated their commitment to improving the tool. The system has been temporarily disabled in Brazil, and the timeline for its reactivation remains unclear.
This incident raises questions about the reliability of crowdsourced early warning systems. While the potential benefits are significant, the risk of false alarms can erode public trust and lead to complacency. For users like myself, this event serves as a reminder that technology, while powerful, is not infallible. It also highlights the importance of having multiple sources of information during natural disasters. It's always helpful to have a backup plan in case of an emergency.
Last month TikTok got a reprieve from President Donald Trump after being forced to shut down in the U.S. thanks to a bill signed by then-President Joe Biden last April. That legislation, called the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, required TikTok's parent company, China's ByteDance, to divest its interest in TikTok and sell the app or face a ban in the U.S.. The deadline for the sale was January 19, 2025.
U.S. lawmakers wanted to shut down TikTok for a couple of reasons. First, they were concerned that as a Chinese company, TikTok has been collecting the personal data of American subscribers including teens. Additionally, there was concern that TikTok was sending Chinese propaganda to American youth via the content it disseminated to subscribers. On Saturday night, January 18th, TikTok went dark and was removed from Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store.
The next day, TikTok was back up and running as a just about to be inaugurated Donald Trump said that he would give ByteDance additional time to find a company or individual to sell TikTok to. But while the app was entertaining and informing Americans once again, Apple and Google both decided to keep TikTok out of the App Store and Play Store respectively. Despite Trump's assurances that he would give ByteDance extra time to satisfy the requirements of the legislation, Apple and Google were concerned that keeping TikTok listed in their app stores could leave them exposed to some very hefty fines.
In a January 20th executive order, Trump had written that he had told his Attorney General "not to take any action to enforce the act for a period of 75 days from today to allow my administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course forward." Last night both Apple and Google received a letter from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stating that a ban on TikTok would not be imminent.
Armed with this protection, Apple and Google felt that they could bring back their listings for TikTok and so the app reappeared in the App Store and Play Store allowing iOS and Android users to install TikTok on their phones. Both app stores had pulled their TikTok listing when TikTok went dark on January 18th and even though ByteDance turned the app back on the next day, Apple and Google had kept the app out of the App Store and Play Store until February 13th.
WhatsApp is rolling out its usual monthly update, but this time around the social app fully focuses on personalization features. The app has been testing a bucketload of new features in the last couple of months, but it seems that it takes a while to bring these to the stable version.
Earlier this week, WhatsApp announced that a new update is making its way to its users on iOS and Android platforms. The update introduces a range of new chat themes, as well as new wallpapers that customers can take advantage of during their conversations.
The new personalization features come with some pre-set options that users can pick from. First, you can now change both the background and bubbles in your chats or even mix and match colors to fit your mood.
Besides new chat themes, WhatsApp users can also spice up their chats by choosing from 30 new wallpaper options. If you’re not content with what the app has to offer, you can always upload a background from the camera roll. That way the background of your chats will be unique.
WhatApp also made it possible to apply the same theme to all chats or even make each one extra special with different themes. It’s important to mention that regardless of what you choose your chats to look like, they will only be visible to you.
Those who already receive the update can now change the theme of their chats and channels by heading to Settings / Chats / Default chat theme. Keep in mind that in order to customize each and every one of your chats separately, you’ll have to click the chat name at the top of the chat screen, but only if you’re using an iPhone as your daily driver.
On the other hand, Android users must click the 3-dot menu and choose “Chat theme” to playing with the new personalization options.
Although WhatsApp announced the new changes today, these features will be available globally over the coming weeks, so if you don’t see them right away, be patient.
We live in a world where everyone wants their pictures and videos to look as crisp as possible, regardless of how much storage space these usually take. Although smartphone makers gradually increased the minimum storage space their product pack inside, it’s never a good idea to store all your media content on your phone for a very long time.
One could argue that you can always pay for cloud storage, but wouldn’t it be better to just pay once for a solution that doesn’t involve internet connectivity? Planck SSD is a phone-first external storage solution that allows iPhone and Android content creators to be as liberal as possible when capturing pictures and videos at maximum quality, and don’t think about storage.
Unlike traditional HDDs (hard-disk drives), SSDs (solid state drives) are way faster, lighter, and much more durable. On top of that, they consume less energy than their bigger and heavier counterparts.
The Planck SSD captures Apple ProRes 4K at 60/120 fps (frames per second) directly to the SSD, thus eliminating dropped frames and storage limits. Since this is a NVMe storage device, it offers 10 Gbps transfer speeds and 1050 MB/s read/write performance.
The SSD storage device comes in two storage configurations – 1 TB and 2 TB, so depending on their needs customers can get one or the other (or even both). It’s extremely small and cable-free for on-the-move convenience.
Not to mention that it will work smoothly with iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, MacBooks, laptops, desktops, and even gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox.
The very useful Planck SSD storage doesn’t come cheap, but content creators will find it accessible enough. The 1 TB version of the SSD storage is available for purchase for $125, while the 2 TB model costs $199.
Screenshot 2025-02-13 12.27.59.jpg
Planck's new SSD can be conveniently attached to any compatible iPhones/iPads and Android devices
Planck's new SSD can be conveniently attached to any compatible iPhones/iPads and Android devices
The company also offers a PlanckBank that allows users to charge the SSD storage while on the go. The accessory acts as a compact USB-C hub that enabled dual SSD connectivity, allowing using to manage two Planck SSD at the same time.
The PlanckBank features 4K HDMI output and supports PD charging up to 140W, powering not just Planck SSDs, but also smartphones, tablets, and laptops. It comes equipped with USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports and can reach speeds of up to 10Gbps (1050 Mb/s).
Google has been quietly rolling out some helpful updates to Gmail on Android. The main improvement is all about making the menus easier to read and navigate. You know those menus that pop up with a bunch of options when you tap the three dots? They've gotten a bit of a makeover.
Previously, these menus were just a long list of text, which could be a bit overwhelming. Now, Google has added icons next to each item, making it much easier to scan and find what you're looking for. They've also added dividers to group related items together, which further improves the organization.
This change isn't entirely new, though. Google actually made similar updates to the Gmail website back in October 2023. It's good to see these improvements making their way to the Android app as well.
So, what exactly has changed? Let's take the menu in the top-right corner of an email as an example. This menu now groups options like "Move to," "Change labels," and "Mark important" together. They've also moved the "Snooze" option and paired it with "Add to Tasks." Other options like "Mute" and "Print all" are also present, with "Report spam" getting highlighted in red at the bottom.
The menu for individual messages within an email thread has also been updated, mainly with the addition of the "Report spam" option. Similarly, the menu you see in your inbox after selecting an email has been reorganized to group related actions together.
These changes are all about making Gmail a bit more user-friendly. It's often the little things that can make a big difference in how we experience an app, and this update certainly falls into that category. If you're an Android user, you should see these changes in the latest version of Gmail (version 2025.01.25.721794537). If you've updated the app and don't see the changes yet, try force-stopping the app and reopening it.
Personally, I find these kinds of updates quite helpful. I'm often on the go, checking emails on my phone, and having a more streamlined experience makes a real difference. It's easier to find what I need and manage my inbox efficiently. It's good to see Google paying attention to these details and making Gmail a more enjoyable app to use.
Google recently announced new digital products that target kids, teens and parents. From additional family-focused controls to helpful experiences for kids and teens, Google is trying to protect youngsters and give parents control over the content they consume on a regular basis.
The list of improvements to existing safeguards Google has in place for under-18 users also includes a new machine learning model that will make it harder for teens to lie about their age.
The Mountain View company has taken some steps toward providing age-appropriate experiences to teens when they use its products, including a number of changes for all users under 18. For example, Google recently introduced a SafeSearch Filter, restricting sensitive ad content, gating age-restricted content on YouTube & Play, and implemented teen wellbeing protections on YouTube.
But that’s not enough since Google has decided to use machine learning to determine the age of a user. The search giant announced this week that it plans to start testing a machine learning-based estimation model. The test will be limited to the United States at launch, but Google plans to bring the technology to more countries over time.
Screenshot 2025-02-13 12.14.27.jpg
Age verification has been one of the weaker links in Google's privacy strategy
Age verification has been one of the weaker links in Google's privacy strategy
The machine learning model Google is going to test this year is meant to help the company estimate whether a user is over or under 18 so that it can provide a more age-appropriate experience.
Google hasn’t yet explained how this machine learning model will work, so it remains to be seen whether or not it will be more effective than the safeguards it has implemented right now.
In related news, Google announced it’s rolling out a new sensitive content warning feature in Google Messages. This feature is opt-in for adults, but mandatory for kids and teens. It can be managed via Android Settings and features parental controls for supervised accounts.
It’s hard to believe that YouTube has existed since 2005, yet here we are celebrating the service’s 20th anniversary with a couple of interesting facts revealed by YouTube’s CEO, Neal Mohan.
The first important tidbit announced by the official is that YouTube is the leading streaming platform in the United States in the last two years when it comes to watch time, at least according to Nielsen, the company known for measuring the audience for TV, radio, and newspapers in media markets.
What’s really interesting is that mobile is no longer the primary viewing platform for YouTube users in the United States. TV has surpassed mobile for the first time ever and is now the main device for YouTube viewing in the US by watch time.
Interestingly enough, it’s not just regular videos that people watch on TV, but other content like Shorts too, along with podcasts, live streams, sports, sitcoms, and talk shows.
According to YouTube, viewers are watching, on average, over 1 billion hours of content on TVs daily. Because of that, YouTube is bringing some of its best features to TVs, including a second screen experience, which allows viewers to use their phones to interact with the video they’re watching on TV whenever they want to leave a comment or make a purchase.
YouTube is also testing a new feature called Watch With that enables YouTube creators to offer live commentary and real-time reactions to games and events. This feature has been initially tested in 2024 with NFL and will continue to be tested with other sports and types of content throughout this year.
In other news, YouTube announced that its subscription services are gaining traction in the United States, with YouTube TV and YouTube Music & Premium surpassing 8 and 100 million subscribers (including trials), respectively.
The last piece of information that seems to be mildly interesting is that the company plans to bring new benefits to YouTube Premium subscribers, as well as improve existing ones like Key Plays and multiview.
Yes, it's true. For many iPhone users with a compatible model, Apple Intelligence is underwhelming when compared to the AI offerings from Samsung and Google. That's not to say that AI won't get better for iPhone users over time, but at this stage anyway, Samsung and Google seem to have a better grasp over how AI can improve their users' lives. Still, Apple decided to have Apple Intelligence turned on by default for compatible devices with the recently released iOS 18.3 update.
So let's say you have an iPhone 15 Pro, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any of the new phones in the iPhone 16 series and you decided to disable Apple Intelligence. We can imagine how surprised you were after installing iOS 18.3.1, released just yesterday, and discovered that Apple Intelligence has been enabled again after you disabled it. That's right, some sort of bug in the incremental iOS 18.3.1 update will turn Apple's AI features back on after you've taken the time to disable them. This also seems to be a problem for those who installed macOS 15.3.1.
Fixing this is very simple. If you disabled Apple Intelligence on your iPhone after installing iOS 18.3 and the feature was enabled again after installing iOS 18.3.1, all you need to do is manually toggle it off again. Go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and toggle off the Apple Intelligence button which is the first one you'll see in the menu. If you change your mind, you can always return to the same page and toggle Apple Intelligence back on.
Screenshot 2025-02-12 16.09.26.jpg
iOS 18.3.1 bug turns on Apple Intelligence even if you've previously disabled it.
iOS 18.3.1 bug turns on Apple Intelligence even if you've previously disabled it.
Before you disable Apple Intelligence, you might want to wait to see how much AI improves Siri in iOS 18.4. With the latter update, Siri will have some new tricks up her sleeve such as the ability to recognize what is on your display. The update will also allow Siri to use your calendar, email, and messages to help answer questions such as, "What time is my lunch with Mom next week? Where are we meeting? The update will also give Siri more control over individual apps, and engage in conversations with you that are more natural.
The iOS 18.4 beta should be arriving soon. If you don't mind installing an unstable beta (possibly reducing your battery life and temporarily losing features you might use every day), you can get an early look at the improvements to Siri. Make sure that your model supports Apple Intelligence (to repeat, those models are the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and any of the phones in the iPhone 16 series), back up your phone, and install iOS 18.4 beta 1 when it is available.
Google's annual developer conference, Google I/O, will return to Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, on May 20th and 21st, 2025. The event will provide a platform for Google to showcase its latest advancements in various technology sectors. Press invitations have been distributed, encouraging attendees to register for the free event and learn about new developments in artificial intelligence, Android, web, and the cloud.
Google I/O has become a significant event for developers and tech enthusiasts alike. Traditionally, it has been a place where Google often unveils its software updates and overall strategic direction. The conference typically features a mix of keynote presentations, technical sessions, hands-on demos, and networking opportunities. Attendees can engage with Google engineers and product experts, gaining insights into the company's latest projects. Over the years, Google I/O has served as a launchpad for products like Android, Chrome, and various Google Cloud services.
Additionally, in the past, Google has also used the I/O conference as an opportunity to unveil its newest hardware products — particularly with their Pixel "a" series. However, last year was a marked exception, choosing instead to pre-emptively unveil the Pixel 8a through a marketing campaign. It is unknown if the company will follow the same path for the upcoming Pixel 9a.
This year's event will follow its familiar format. The first day, Tuesday, May 20th, will kick off with the highly anticipated Google Keynote in the afternoon, followed by the Developer Keynote. The evening will then be dedicated to various sessions, product demos, and Q&A stations, offering attendees a chance to dive deeper. A developer block party is also planned for the evening, providing a more relaxed environment for networking and interaction.
The second day, Wednesday, May 21st, will continue with sessions, demos, and Q&A stations throughout the afternoon and evening. While the full agenda is yet to be released, online registration for the free event is now open. This early registration allows attendees to secure their spot and stay updated on any further announcements regarding the conference schedule. Of course, the keynote will also be broadcast via YouTube for those that cannot physically attend.
I am definitely very excited to see what Google will unveil this year at I/O. Last year, we were treated to demos of Gemini Live and many of the AI advancements we have seen roll out throughout the year. I don't expect this year to be much different, and for the company to focus heavily on AI once again. Whether these developments will be exciting enough to make the next generation of Pixels phones stand out among the competition, remains to be seen.
Yesterday we told you that Google had followed the executive order signed by President Donald Trump giving the Gulf of Mexico a new name: Gulf of America. The change appeared on Google Maps yesterday in the U.S. In Mexico, the body of water is still listed as the Gulf of Mexico and everywhere else both names are shown with the Gulf of America in parenthesis. Google will also change the mountain in Alaska known as Denali back to its prior name, Mount McKinley.
While we noted that Apple Maps hadn't made the change yet, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said that Apple will start changing the name to Gulf of America in the U.S. today with the new name set to appear in other countries soon. So far, Microsoft's Bing Maps and MapQuest have kept the Gulf of Mexico name. Now, with Trump trying to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in the government and private business, cultural holidays are no longer to be celebrated and Google is playing along.
Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Pride Month have been removed from the Google Calendar app. Google also erased Indigenous People Month, Jewish Heritage Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and Hispanic Heritage Month. Google claims to have removed these holidays last year when it "standardized" its calendars to only include public holidays and national observances as classified by timeanddate.com.
Quote:
"Some years ago, the Calendar team started manually adding a broader set of cultural moments in a wide number of countries around the world. We got feedback that some other events and countries were missing — and maintaining hundreds of moments manually and consistently globally wasn't scalable or sustainable."-Google spokesman
On the support page, a Googler who is a "Platinum Product Expert" claims that Google removed the holidays to standardize the calendar around the globe. He writes:
- Holidays shown in Google Calendar are public holidays and national observances as classified by timeanddate.com.
- These public holidays and national observances were standardized in 2024 to provide people with a consistent experience across the globe.
- If you wish to include additional holidays or observances, you can subscribe to a third-party calendar, import a calendar event, or create a recurring event. Visit the Google Calendar Help Center for more details on how to subscribe to calendars or import events.
- To view a country’s holidays and national observances, visit the Time and Date website. To share feedback with Time and Date, please visit their site here.
And please do send feedback to Google directly through the Calendar as well, while it may seem like this goes nowhere, it is all read and popular requests are taken into consideration.
Are we pointed out yesterday, back in September, then-candidate Trump threatened to prosecute Google for Election Interference if he was re-elected to the White House. In addition, Google could be forced to divest some of its businesses by the DOJ for engaging in anti-competitive practices. The company probably feels that being on Trump's good side means that they might be able to get him to shut down any Justice Department action that would force Google to spin off its Search unit.
Google had a tough decision to make. Appease the president or anger many of its customers. It's obvious which way Google decided to go.